U.S. patent application number 09/958033 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-31 for lower leg massager and chair type massaging apparatus using the same.
Invention is credited to Shimizu, Nobuzo.
Application Number | 20020161316 09/958033 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18618561 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020161316 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shimizu, Nobuzo |
October 31, 2002 |
LOWER LEG MASSAGER AND CHAIR TYPE MASSAGING APPARATUS USING THE
SAME
Abstract
A lower leg massager of the present invention can massage the
lower legs over a wide range and in a preferred manner by
constructing the apparatus in such a manner that the lower leg can
be pressed over a wide range without arranging a plurality of
massaging member along the length thereof. A lower leg massager of
the present invention comprises massaging means 8 including a pair
of right and left massaging members 7, 7 arranged in an opposed
manner at a space as wide as a lower leg 6 can be fitted
therebetween and formed of board elongated in the direction along
the length of the lower leg 6; and driving means 14 for moving a
pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 toward and away from
each other so that the longitudinal directions thereof are inclined
in the opposite directions with respect to each other and changing
the extent of longitudinal inclination of the massaging members 7,
7 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lower leg 6
when moving the massaging members 7, 7 toward and away from each
other.
Inventors: |
Shimizu, Nobuzo;
(Higashi-Osaka-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
18618561 |
Appl. No.: |
09/958033 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2001 |
PCT Filed: |
March 21, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP01/02268 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
601/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H 2201/1678 20130101;
A61H 7/00 20130101; A61H 2205/10 20130101; A61H 2201/0149 20130101;
A61H 7/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
601/98 |
International
Class: |
A61H 001/00; A61H
019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 6, 2000 |
JP |
2000-105143 |
Claims
1. A lower leg massager comprising: massaging means (8) comprising
a pair of right and left massaging members (7, 7) arranged in an
opposed manner at a space as wide as a lower leg (6) can be fitted
therebetween and formed of board elongated in the direction along
the length of the lower leg (6); and driving means (14) for moving
a pair of right and left massaging members (7, 7) toward and away
from each other so that the longitudinal directions thereof are
inclined in the opposite directions with respect to each other and
changing the extent of longitudinal inclination of the massaging
members (7, 7) with respect to the longitudinal direction of the
lower leg (6) when moving the massaging members toward and away
from each other.
2. A lower leg massager as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
driving means (14) drives the pair of right and left massaging
members (7, 7) in such a manner that when one of the longitudinally
opposing ends of the massaging members (7, 7) move toward each
other, the other longitudinally opposing ends thereof move away
from each other, and when one longitudinally opposing ends move
away from each other, the other longitudinally opposing ends move
toward each other.
3. A lower leg massager as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein the
driving means (14) changes the extent of widthwise inclination of
the pair of right and left massaging members (7, 7) with respect to
the thickness of the lower leg (6) when the massaging members (7,
7) are moved toward and away from each other.
4. A lower leg massager as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the driving means (14) comprises: a revolving shaft (4)
passing through each massaging member (7, 7) in the thickness wise
direction thereof so as to be capable of relative rotation with
respect to the pair of right and left massaging members(7, 7); a
pair of right and left cam members (15, 15) fixed at axially
intermediate positions of the revolving shaft (4), each of the cam
members having a cam surface (21) inclined with respect to the
revolving shaft (4) and abutted against each massaging member (7,
7); and a guide member (16) for allowing the pair of right and left
massaging members (7, 7) to move along longitudinally of the
revolving shaft (4) but restricting the same from being rotated
with the revolving shaft (4).
5. A lower leg massager as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 4,
wherein two massaging means (8, 8) are arranged in such a manner
that the therapeutic recesses (13) for the lower legs (6)
constructed between the massaging members (7, 7) of the same means
(8) are arranged side by side in the same direction on the left
side and the right side away from each other.
6. A lower leg massager as set forth in claim 5, wherein a driving
motor (5) for rotating the revolving shaft (4) is disposed between
two massaging means (8, 8).
7. A lower leg massager as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the pair of right and left massaging members (7, 7) are
formed of leaf springs that are resiliently deformable in the
direction of thickness.
8. A lower leg massager as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the pair of left and right massaging members (7, 7) are
constructed in such a manner that the portions thereof
corresponding to the lower portion of the lower leg (6) to be
fitted therebetween are moved closer to the lower leg (6) than the
portions corresponding to the upper portion of the lower leg
(6).
9. A chair type massaging apparatus comprising: a seat portion (28)
for supporting the hip of a human body from below; a seatback
portion (29) connected to the rear end of the seat portion (28);
and a footrest (31) having a lower leg massager (1) as set forth in
any one of claims 1 to 8 provided forwardly of the seat portion
(28).
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a lower leg massager and a
chair type massaging apparatus using the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Hitherto, one of chair type massaging apparatuses that can
massage not only the back or the hip of the human body, but also
lower legs (specifically, the portion from below knee region to the
vicinity of the ankle) thereof is disclosed in, for example,
Japanese patent publication No. 3012780. This massaging apparatus
comprises a seat portion for supporting the hip of the human body
from below, a seatback portion provided at the rear end of the seat
portion and including a massaging mechanism therein, and a footrest
connected to the front end of the seat portion and having
capability of massaging lower legs.
[0003] Such a footrest comprises a pair of right and left
therapeutic recesses for accommodating lower legs between both end
walls and center wall, and airbags on the inner surfaces of both
side walls and on both side surfaces of the center wall. Therefore,
in the footrest of the related art, both lower legs fitted in the
respective therapeutic recesses can be massaged simultaneously by
inflating and deflating the respective air bags by an air
supplying/discharging apparatus.
[0004] In the case of an airbag used in the footrest described
above, since the swelling extent thereof is the largest at the
center and gradually decreases toward both ends, a sufficient
pressing force is applied only on a small region along the length
of the lower leg, and thus in order to obtain a desired massaging
effect, the user disadvantageously have to move his/her lower legs
along the therapeutic recesses.
[0005] Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. HEI 11-347082, a footrest having a plurality of
airbags adjacently aligned along the length of each therapeutic
recess to supply and discharge air to/from the plurality of airbags
simultaneously or sequentially so that the lower leg can be
effectively massaged over a large region along the length thereof
has already been proposed.
[0006] However, such a massaging apparatus has a disadvantage in
that the number of components increases and thus the manufacturing
cost increases as well since a plurality of airbags (massaging
members) have to be aligned along the length of the recess on both
sides of one therapeutic recess.
[0007] Moreover, in addition to the fact that the airbag type
massaging apparatus has a disadvantage in that it is large and
costly since an air supplying/discharging apparatus comprising a
compressor, an air piping, an electromagnetic valve, and a
controlling means for the valve is required, there is another
disadvantage in that programming of the controlling means for the
air supplying/discharging apparatus increases in complexity in
order to inflate and deflate the plurality of airbags
simultaneously and sequentially, thereby further increasing the
manufacturing cost.
[0008] On the other hand, a conceivable measure to solve the
fundamental disadvantage existing in such an airbag type massaging
apparatus is to employ a mechanism that both side walls that
constitute the therapeutic recess themselves moves toward and away
from the lower leg.
[0009] However, when allowing the both side walls constituting the
therapeutic recess to move simply in parallel toward and away from
the lower leg, the both side walls press only the thicker portion
of the lower leg (for example, the calf), and the thinner portion
(for example, the portion near the ankle) cannot be preferably
massaged. In addition, the simple parallel movement of the both
side walls cannot perform complex massaging operation such as
rubbing up and rubbing down for the lower leg.
[0010] With such circumstances in view, it is an object of the
present invention to provide a massager being capable of massaging
the lower leg over a wide range and in a preferred manner at low
cost by constructing the apparatus in such a manner that the lower
leg can be pressed over a wide range without arranging a plurality
of massaging member along the length thereof.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0011] In order to achieve the object described above, the present
invention takes a following technical step.
[0012] That is, the lower leg massager according to the present
invention comprises: massaging means comprising a pair of right and
left massaging members arranged in an opposed manner at a space as
wide as a lower leg can be fitted therebetween and formed of board
elongated in the direction along the length of the lower leg; and
driving means for moving the pair of right and left massaging
members toward and away from each other so that the longitudinal
directions thereof are inclined in the opposite directions with
respect to each other and changing the extent of longitudinal
inclination of the massaging members with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the lower leg when moving the massaging
members toward and away from each other.
[0013] In this case, when the driving means is operated with a
lower leg fitted between the pair of right and left massaging
members, the respective massaging members move toward and away from
each other so that the longitudinal directions thereof are inclined
in the opposite directions with respect to each other for massaging
the lower leg fitted therebetween.
[0014] In the present invention, since the massaging member is
constructed not only to simply moves in parallel but also to change
the extent of longitudinal inclination thereof with respect to the
direction longitudinally of the lower leg when they moves toward
and away from each other, the massaging members adequately presses
each longitudinal portions of the lower leg of different thickness.
Therefore, the lower leg can adequately be massaged over a wide
range along the length thereof even without arranging a plurality
of massaging members along the direction longitudinally of the
length of the lower leg.
[0015] When each massaging member moves toward and away from each
other, the extent of longitudinal inclination of each massaging
member with respect to the direction longitudinally of the lower
leg changes, and thus complex massaging operation such as rubbing
up and rubbing down can be performed for the lower leg.
[0016] In the invention described above, by constructing a pair of
right and left massaging members to be driven by the driving means
in such a manner that when one of the longitudinally opposing ends
of the pair of right and left massaging members moves toward each
other, the other longitudinally opposing ends thereof move away
from each other, and when one of the longitudinally opposing ends
of the pair of right and left massaging members move away from each
other, the other longitudinally opposing ends of the pair of right
and left massaging members move toward each other, the different
therapeutic portions of the lower leg longitudinally away from each
other can be massaged alternately at different timings, and thus
the massaging effect for the lower leg can be improved.
[0017] In addition, by constructing the pair of right and left
massaging members in such a manner that the extent of widthwise
inclination of the same massaging member with respect to the
thickness of the lower leg is changed when they moves toward and
away from each other by the driving means, the complex massaging
operation such as rubbing up and rubbing down with respect to the
lower leg can also be performed in the direction of thickness
thereof.
[0018] The driving means that can be employed for performing the
above-described operation may comprise, more specifically, a
revolving shaft passing through each massaging member in the
direction of thickness so as to be capable of relative rotation
with respect to the pair of right and left massaging members, a
pair of right and left cam members fixed at axially intermediate
positions of the revolving shaft and having cam surfaces inclined
with respect to the revolving shaft and abutted against each
massaging member, and a guide member for allowing the pair of right
and left massaging members to move along the revolving shaft but
restricting the same from being rotated therewith.
[0019] In this invention, by arranging two massaging means in such
a manner that the therapeutic recesses for the lower legs
constructed by the massaging members of the same means are arranged
side by side in the same direction on the left side and the right
side away from each other, two massaging means can massage a pair
of lower legs at the same time. In this case, by providing the
driving motor for rotating the revolving shaft between these two
massaging means, the lateral dimension of this massaging apparatus
can be reduced.
[0020] In the present invention, forming the pair of right and left
massaging members of leaf springs that are resiliently deformable
in the direction of thickness prevents the massaging members from
pressing the lower leg too strong and making the user feel
pain.
[0021] In the present invention, by constructing the pair of right
and left massaging members in such a manner that the portion
corresponding to the lower portion of the lower leg to be fitted
therebetween is moved closer to the lower leg in comparison with
the portion corresponding to the upper portion of the lower leg, a
pressing force applied to the lower portion of the lower leg and a
pressing force applied to the upper portion of the lower leg are
equalized and thus the massaging effect for each portion of the
lower leg can be equalized.
[0022] The massaging apparatus for the lower leg described thus far
can be used as a single unit massager that is placed on the floor
or on the bed, and as a footrest for the chair type massaging
apparatus.
[0023] In other words, the chair type massaging apparatus of the
present invention comprises a seat portion for supporting the hip
of a human body from below, a seat back portion connected to the
rear end of the seat, and a footrest mounted in front of the seat
portion and having a massager for the lower leg. The footrest may
be connected to the front end of the seat so as to be detachable or
integrally, or may be arranged separately from the front end of the
seat portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a massager for lower legs.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a front view of the massager for lower legs.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A in
FIG. 2.
[0027] FIGS. 4 are plan views showing a massaging operation made by
massaging means.
[0028] FIGS. 5 are plan views showing a massaging operation made by
the massaging means.
[0029] FIGS. 6 are front views showing a massaging operation made
by the massaging means.
[0030] FIGS. 7 are front views showing a massaging operation made
by the massaging means.
[0031] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a legless chair type
massaging apparatus.
[0032] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a normal chair type
massaging apparatus.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION
[0033] Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment of the present
invention will be described.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a massager 1 for lower legs
according to this embodiment comprises a base plate 2 formed
generally in a laterally elongated rectangular shape, a revolving
shaft 4 rotatably inserted between supporting brackets 3,3 provided
upright on both lateral ends of the base plate 2, a driving motor 5
for rotating the revolving shaft 4, and two massaging means 8, 8
each having a pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 formed
of board extending along the length of a human lower leg 6.
[0035] The base plate 2 is formed of a board of which the lateral
length is approximately two times the vertical length, and provided
with the supporting brackets 3, 3 at both ends on the right and
left sides. The revolving shaft 4 is arranged along the
longitudinal center line of the plate 2 in such a manner that the
axial direction thereof coincides with the longitudinal direction
(lateral direction in FIG. 1) of base plate 2, and both ends of the
revolving shaft 4 in the axial direction are rotatably inserted
into the bearing (not shown) provided within the supporting
brackets 3, 3.
[0036] The driving motor 5 comprises an electric motor being
capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions, and is
disposed at the lengthwise center of the base plate 2 between two
massaging means 8, 8. The driving shaft of the driving motor 5 is
fitted with a worm gear 9, which in turn engages the worm wheel 10
fixed at the lengthwise center of the revolving shaft 4, and these
gear 9 and the wheel 10 are stored within the gear case 11 provided
at the center of the base plate 2. Therefore, by rotating the
driving motor 5 in the forward and reverse directions, the
revolving shaft 4 can be rotated in the forward and reverse
directions via the driving mechanism comprising the gear 9 and the
wheel 10.
[0037] Each of the right and left massaging means 8, 8 comprises a
pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 through which the
revolving shaft 4 is passed at the center thereof for relative
rotation, and a leg mount 12 for supporting the lower leg 6 from
below. The respective massaging members 7, 7 are arranged in a
opposed manner at a space as wide as a lower leg 6 can be fitted
therebetween, and formed of board elongated in the direction along
the length of the lower leg 6.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, each massaging member 7, 7 has a
longitudinal length L extending from the lower knee region to the
portion near the ankle of the lower leg 6. As shown in FIG. 2, the
widthwise dimension of each massaging member 7, 7 is set in such a
manner that the height H from the upper surface of the leg mount 12
(bottom surface of a therapeutic recess 13) to the upper edge of
the massaging member 7, 7 is higher than the thickest point p of
the lower leg 6. In this manner, these pair of right and left
massaging members 7, 7 and the leg mount 12 define the therapeutic
recess 13 in the shape of an elongated groove, which can
accommodate the portion of the lower leg 6 below the knee tightly
and is extending in the direction along the length of the lower leg
6.
[0039] The two massaging means 8, 8 are arranged between the gear
case 11 and the left supporting bracket 3, and between the same
gear case 11 and the right supporting bracket 3 respectively at a
space from side to side so that the therapeutic recesses 13 face
toward the same direction.
[0040] The lower leg massager 1 of this embodiment comprises a
driving means 14 for moving each massaging member 7, 7 toward and
away from each other in such a manner that the extent of
inclination of each massaging member 7, 7 with respect to the
direction longitudinally along the lower leg 6 changes. The driving
means 14 comprises the revolving shaft 4, a pair of right and left
cam members 15, 15 fixed at axially intermediate positions of the
revolving shaft 4, and guide members 16, 16 for allowing the
massaging members 7, 7 to move along the revolving shaft 4 but
restricting the same from being rotated therewith.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the revolving shaft 4 passes
through each massaging member 7, 7 in the direction of thickness at
the center in the longitudinal direction and lower position in the
widthwise direction thereof so as to be capable of relative
rotation with respect to each massaging member 7, 7, and the cam
members 15, 15 are provided at these through portions.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the cam member 15 comprises a pair of
front and back sandwiching plates 17, 18 each formed into a shape
obtained by cutting a column diagonally with respect to the axis
thereof, and a center plate 19 in the shape a short cylinder
interposed between these sandwiching plates 17, 18, and these
plates 17-19 are integrated into one piece with fixing screws 20
passing therethrough in the direction of the axis of the revolving
shaft 4.
[0043] The sandwiching plates 17, 18 are fixed by a locking pin or
the like, not shown, so as to move neither in the axial direction
nor the rotating direction of the revolving shaft 4. on the other
hand, the center plate 19 is fixed to both plates 17, 18 with the
inclined surfaces of the sandwiching plates 18, 19 abutted against
the front and back surfaces thereof. Therefore, the center plate 19
is arranged in a state in which the axis thereof is inclined with
respect to the revolving shaft 4, so as to define a cam surface 21
inclined with respect to the revolving shaft 4 on the periphery
thereof.
[0044] The center plate 19 is fitted within a boss portion 22 of
the massaging member 7 so as to be capable of sliding movement, and
in this case, the cam surface 21 of the center plate 19 abuts
against the end surface of the boss portion 22. Therefore, the
massaging member 7 is rotatably connected to the revolving shaft 4
in a state of being inclined with respect to the direction of the
axis of the revolving shaft 4.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the direction of inclination
of the right and left cam members 15, 15 constituting one of
massaging means 8 with respect to the revolving shaft 4 is set to
be opposite with each other, whereby the pair of right and left
massaging members 7, 7 move toward and away from each other by
inclining their longitudinal directions in the opposite
directions.
[0046] The guiding member 16 comprises a guide pin 23 projecting
from the center of the lower edge of the massaging member 7
downwardly, and a guide rail 24 with which the guide pin 23
engages. As shown in FIG. 2, the guide rail 24 extends in the same
direction as the revolving shaft 4 immediately under the revolving
shaft 4 on the base plate 2 for guiding the projecting end of the
guide pin 23 so as to be capable of moving in the axial direction
of the revolving shaft 4 (lateral direction in FIG. 2) but not in
the direction orthogonal to the axial direction.
[0047] Therefore, each massaging member 7, 7 is allowed to move
along the revolving shaft 4 but is restricted from being rotated
therewith by the guide pin 23 provided at the lower edge portion
thereof.
[0048] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, since a revolving
shaft 4 passes through the pair of right and left massaging members
7, 7 at the lengthwise center thereof so that each massaging member
7, 7 moves toward and away from each other by the inclined cam
surface 21 on the cam member 15 provided at the through portion
thereof, the massaging members 7, 7 moves in such a manner that
when one of the longitudinally opposing ends of the pair of right
and left massaging members move toward each other, the other
longitudinally opposing ends thereof move away from each other, and
when one of the longitudinally opposing ends of the pair of right
and left massaging members move away from each other, the other
longitudinally opposing ends of the pair of right and left
massaging members move toward each other.
[0049] Since the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 are
restricted from being rotated with the revolving shaft 4 by the
guide pin 23 and driven by the inclined cam surface 21 of the cam
member 15 in this state, the extent of longitudinal inclination of
the massaging members 7, 7 with respect to the direction of the
length of the lower leg 6 (vertical direction in FIG. 1) changes
sequentially and the extent of widthwise inclination thereof with
respect to the direction of thickness of the lower leg 6 (vertical
direction in FIG. 2) sequentially changes as well when the
massaging member 7, 7 moves toward and away from each other.
[0050] On the other hand, since the massaging member 7 of this
embodiment is formed of a plastic leaf spring that is resiliently
deformable in the direction of thickness, the massaging members 7
are prevented from pressing the lower leg too strong and making the
user feel pain.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 1, the portions of the pressing surfaces of
the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 corresponding to
the portions near the ankles of the lower leg 6 is fixed with a
cushion material 25 formed of urethane foam resin or the like,
whereby a pressing force of the massaging member 7 is appropriately
applied to the relatively thin portion of the lower leg near the
ankle. Therefore, a pressing force applied to the lower portion and
to the upper portion of the lower leg 7 is equalized, and thus the
massaging effect for each portion of the lower leg 6 can be
equalized.
[0052] It is also possible to form the pressing surface of the
massaging member 7 into a configuration suited to the curved
configuration of the lower leg 6 without providing cushion material
so that the portion of the massaging member 7 corresponding to the
lower side of the lower leg 6 placed between both massaging members
7, 7 is moved closer to the lower leg 6 than the portion
corresponding to the upper portion of the lower leg 6.
[0053] The operation of the lower leg massager 1 of this embodiment
will now be described.
[0054] In order to massage the lower leg 6 of a person with this
massager 1, both of the lower legs 6 of the person are placed
between the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 of the
respective massaging means 8, 8 (within the therapeutic recesses
13), and the driving motor 5 is actuated to move the massaging
members 7, 7 toward and away from each other by the driving means
14. In this case, each massaging member 7, 7 moves toward and away
from each other in a state where the longitudinal directions
thereof are inclined in the direction opposed with respect to each
other for massaging the lower leg 6 fitted therebetween.
[0055] FIGS. 4 to 7 show the massaging action made by the massaging
means 8 in the case described above. FIGS. 4 and 5 are plan views
showing the action of the respective massaging means 8, 8 in
association with change over time, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are front
views corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0056] In other words, FIG. 4(b) shows a state in which the
revolving shaft 4 rotates one-quarter turn from the state shown in
FIG. 4(a), FIG. 5(c) shows a state in which the revolving shaft 4
rotates two-quarters turn from the state shown in FIG. 4(a), and
FIG. 5(d) shows a state in which the revolving shaft 4 rotates
three-quarters from the state shown in FIG. 4(a). FIGS. 6(a), (b)
and FIGS. 7(c), (d) are front views corresponding to FIGS. 4(a),
(b), and FIGS. 5(c), (d), respectively.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the widthwisely extending upper edges
7A of the respective massaging members 7, 7 incline in the opposite
direction with respect to the revolving shaft 4 so that the ends on
one side of the edges 7A take the closest position and the ends on
the other side thereof take the farthest position, and as shown in
FIG. 6(a), one longitudinally extending edge 7B and the other
longitudinally extending edge 7C of each massaging member, 7, 7 are
perpendicular to the revolving shaft 4.
[0058] When the revolving shaft 4 rotates one-quarter turn in the
direction as shown in the figure from the state shown in FIG. 4(a)
and FIG. 6(a), the widthwisely extending upper edges 7A of the
respective massaging members 7, 7 move closer in parallel with each
other so as to be perpendicular to the revolving shaft 4, and as
shown in FIG. 6(b), the one longitudinally widthwise extending edge
7B and the other longitudinally extending edge 7C of each massaging
member 7, 7 incline to a state in which the upper edges 7A thereof
take the position closest with respect to each other.
[0059] When the revolving shaft 4 further rotates one-quarter turn
from the state shown in FIG. 4(b) and FIG. 6(b), as shown in FIG.
5(c), the widthwisely extending upper edges 7A of the respective
massaging members 7, 7 incline in the opposite direction with
respect to the revolving shaft 4 so that the ends on one side
thereof take the farthest position and the ends on the other side
thereof take the closest position, and as shown in FIG. 7(c), one
longitudinally extending edge 7B and the other longitudinally
extending edge 7C of each massaging member 7,7 are perpendicular to
the revolving shaft 4.
[0060] When the revolving shaft 4 further rotates one-quarter turn
from the state shown in FIG. 5(c) and FIG. 7(c) as shown in FIG.
5(d), the widthwisely extending upper edges 7A of the respective
massaging members 7, 7 move away in parallel with each other so as
to be perpendicular to the revolving shaft 4, and as shown in FIG.
7(d), the one longitudinally extending edge 7B and the other
longitudinally extending edge 7C of each massaging member 7, 7
incline to a state in which the upper edges 7A thereof take the
position farthest with respect to each other.
[0061] Then, when the revolving shaft 4 further rotates one-quarter
turn from the state shown in FIG. 5(d) and FIG. 7(d), the massaging
members 7, 7 return to the original state shown in FIG. 4(a) and
FIG. 6(a).
[0062] As is described thus far, according to the lower leg
massager 1 of this embodiment, a pair of right and left massaging
members 7, 7 each formed into elongated board extending along the
length of the lower leg 6 not only moves in parallel toward the
lower leg 6, but also changes the extent of inclination in the
longitudinal direction with respect to the length of the lower leg
6 when moving toward and away from each other, and thus the
massaging member 7 adequately presses each portions of the lower
leg 6 having different thickness along the length thereof.
[0063] Therefore, a single massaging member 7 can adequately
massage over a wide range of the lower leg 6 along the length
thereof without providing a plurality of massaging members along
the length of the lower leg 6. Since the extent of inclination of
each massaging member 7, 7 in the longitudinal direction thereof
with respect to the longitudinal direction of the lower leg 6
changes when the respective massaging members 7, 7 move toward and
away from each other, complex massaging operation such as rubbing
up and rubbing down for the lower leg 6 can be performed.
[0064] Since the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7 are
constructed in such a manner that when the longitudinally opposing
ends on one side of the pair of right and left massaging members 7,
7 move toward each other, the other longitudinally opposing ends
thereof move away from each other, and when one of the
longitudinally opposing ends of the pair of right and left
massaging members move away from each other, the other ends of the
pair of right and left massaging members move toward each other
(See FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 5(c)), the therapeutic portions of the
lower leg 6 longitudinally away from each other can be massaged
alternately at different timings by the longitudinally opposing
ends of the pair of right and left massaging members 7, 7, which
also improves the massaging effect for the lower leg 6.
[0065] In addition, since the extent of widthwise inclination with
respect to the direction of thickness of the lower leg 6 also
changes with the movement of both of the massaging members 7, 7
toward and away from each other, the complex massaging operation
such as rubbing up and rubbing down with respect to the lower leg 6
can also be performed in the direction of thickness thereof.
[0066] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show specific examples of a chair type
massaging apparatus 27 using the lower leg massager 1 described
above.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows a legless chair type massaging apparatus 27 in
which a seat portion 28 is placed directly on the floor comprising:
the seat portion 28 for supporting the hip of a human body from
below, and a seatback portion 29 connected to the rear end portion
of the seat portion 28. In the seatback portion 29, there is
provided a massaging mechanism 30 for performing rubbing or tapping
massage incorporated therein so as to be capable of moving
vertically, and in the seat portion 28 there is provided a
reclining mechanism (not shown) for changing the angle of
inclination of the seatback portion 29.
[0068] A footrest 31 is disposed forwardly of the seat portion 28,
and the footrest 31 is constructed by covering the entire lower leg
massager 1 with a covering member 32 such as a raised cloth or the
like.
[0069] According to the chair-type massaging apparatus 27, the user
can be given a massage on his/her back or neck by the massaging
mechanism 30 provided in the seatback portion 29 while sitting on
the seat portion 28, and simultaneously on his/her lower legs 6
(especially on his/her calves) by the footrest 31 incorporated in
the massager 1 arranged forwardly of the seat portion 28.
[0070] The footrest 31 (lower leg massager 1) described above may
be detachably connected to the seat portion 28. The footrest 31
described above may also be used as a single massager that is used
separately from the legless chair 27 by placing on the floor or on
the bed.
[0071] FIG. 9 shows a normal chair type massaging apparatus 27 in
which a seat portion 28 is arranged at a higher position away from
the floor, comprising the seat portion 28 for supporting the hip of
a human body from below, a leg portion 33 for supporting the seat
portion 28 form below, and a seatback portion 29 connected to the
rear end of the seat portion 28. The seatback portion 29 is
provided with a massaging mechanism 30 incorporated therein so as
to be capable of vertical movement, and in the seat portion 28
there is provided a reclining mechanism (not shown) for changing
the angle of inclination of the seatback portion 29.
[0072] The front end portion of the seat portion 28 is connected
with a footrest 31 including the lower leg massager 1 incorporated
therein so as to be capable of vertical swinging movement, and the
angle of inclination of the footrest 31 with respect to the seat
portion 28 can be changed corresponding to the angle of inclination
of the seatback portion 29.
[0073] The embodiments shown in this specification is illustrative
but not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined
by appended claims, and all the modifications containing these
respective claims are included in the present invention. For
example, the present invention may comprise only a single massaging
means 8.
[0074] As is described thus far, according to the present
invention, since a wide range of the lower leg along the length
thereof can be pressed by a pair of right and left massaging
member, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of massaging
member along the length of the lower leg, whereby a massager that
can adequately massage the lower leg over a wide range can be
provided at low cost.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0075] The present invention is directed to a massager that is
suitable for massaging the lower leg of a human body. Therefore,
the present invention can be used for the product that massages
only the lower leg. The present invention can also be used as a
component of a chair type massaging apparatus by incorporating it
within a footrest provided forwardly of a seat portion of the chair
type massaging apparatus.
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